5/20/2011
Daily traffic slowdown to assist with congestion on U.S. 93
TWIN FALLS -- To address traffic backup leaving Twin Falls on northbound U.S. 93 during the afternoon commute, pace cars are being used to create gaps in the southbound traffic to allow safe left turns at the intersection of Golf Course Road, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Starting earlier this week, two pace cars have been utilized to slow the southbound traffic beginning at Interstate 84 and going south to the intersection of Golf Course Road. Traffic is slowed by the pace cars, creating a large gap in traffic going into Twin Falls, to allow for traffic to turn left onto Golf Course Road. This action is needed due to traffic backup onto the Perrine Bridge as drivers find an alternative route to avoid the construction zone at the U.S. 93/I-84 junction.
The pace cars will be used from about 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, slowing traffic to about 35 mph. The result is a gap in traffic that should allow for up to 20 vehicles to safely cross U.S. 93 onto Golf Course Road.
The pace cars will continue to be used during this phase of construction in which the northbound lanes are being rebuilt. When traffic switches by mid-July, the use of pace cars will be reassessed to ensure viability. Drivers are asked to be patient when driving south from I-84 and use caution near the Golf Course Road intersection.
Knife River Corporation Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor for the $5.2 million rehabilitation project to reconstruct and widen U.S. 93 from south of the I-84 junction north for about two miles.